Blantyre: region in Malawi
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View Blantyre, Malawi on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Blantyre as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.85, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 5.3, 4.82, 6.86 and 6.27. Disconnectivity in street construction in Blantyre follows a zig-zag trend. In 1976-1990, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1991-2000.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Blantyre spans a total of 3086 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 6.27, which is highly disconnected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 5.3, 5.22, 5.56 and 5.85. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Blantyre has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Blantyre followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Blantyre, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Blantyre and Limbe. Out of the two cities, Blantyre does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Blantyre was at its lowest in 1976-1990.
How do development practices in Blantyre fare in comparison to others in Malawi? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Blantyre was the 1st-most disconnected out of the 6 regions in Malawi. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Blantyre ranked 1st in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Blantyre is Limbe with an SNDi of 5.93, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Blantyre with an SNDi of 5.9, which is highly disconnected. See trends for these cities: Blantyre, Limbe
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Blantyre was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Blantyre, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Blantyre and Limbe. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Blantyre follow the same region trend.
To date, Blantyre is the 1st-most disconnected out of the 6 regions in Malawi. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Blantyre ranked 1st in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.